Billy and The Kid

You would think WB being on vacation all last week, he would have three chapters ready!

By the way, good job!

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Originally Posted by Minnerman

I hope them there cookies dont produce a Blue paper towel moment in the next chapter about the time they get to the good stuff. Ifn it does, Little Billy is Torch or DD. Bwahahahahahaha

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I got the next chapter pegged. Little Billy is Torch and Mr Baker is Sat and after eatin them cookies mrs baker doctored up they ain't neither one of em gonna have time to go feshin. Both of em gonna be chafed from all the blue paper towels. Then Mrs Baker and Little Billys mom gonna go shopping and spend all Mr Bakers money on new partying dresses for when Mr Baker is spendin his last days on the water with Billy.

this is getting a better wb keep it up.
i'm liking it so far!

WB, plum proud, Pard.

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Originally Posted by Wannabe...

Chapter 7

William Baker was almost looking forward to getting to know Billy, but at the same time was dreading going through all of the stuff in his boat. He’d planned and researched and tested and purchased for months on end and now it all just seemed so silly to him. All that time and money wasted on something he’d never get to use now. He’d even considered selling it all and being done with it. At least that way someone would get the enjoyment out of it that he had planned to. If it wasn’t for being so busy with the doctors, the treatments and the big move, he probably would have.

When he reached the door, Billy was almost vibrating with excitement. “Hey Billy, you ready to get started?” “Sure am Mr. Baker”. “Well let’s get to it then.” William directed Billy to climb into the boat and showed him where to step on the trailer, then the fender then the deck to climb in without slipping….or scratching the boat. He took his time and explained to Billy what the fore and aft was, which way was port and which was starboard and why they were called that. Billy drank it all in and William noticed that he was listening, not just peppering him with question like most kids do. William had Billy sit first on the aft deck and scoot over the boxes that were stacked there so William could look inside and decide where to put stuff. Most of these boxes were full of tools and spare parts. There was a prop, prop wrench and spare hub kit. Some tools in weatherproof cases. Spare fuel filters, spark plugs, test light and electrical meter. Then a whole box of electrical parts – wire, crimping tool, electrical connectors, dielectric grease tubes, fuses of every size. Next was a box labeled trailer. This box was heavy too and William warned Billy to be careful with that one so he wouldn’t hurt himself or the boat when he moved it. Inside was a complete hub assembly, and a bearing and race kit, a 4 way tool, blocks of wood, a grease gun and tubes of unopened grease, a trailer wiring harness and a tire pressure gauge. Of course, Billy had no clue what most of this stuff was, he was just concentrating on not dropping anything and studying what Mr. Baker was doing with it when he handed it off. He was also trying to focus on not asking too many questions just like he promised his mother he wouldn’t do.

William would take each object and would make a mental note of what needed to be done with it and either find a place for it on his pegboard in what was becoming the marine section of the garage of placing it on the floor of the shop in the spot that would normally be taken up by his wife’s car. He wasn’t sure why exactly, but he was separating what needed to be in the boat to make it ready to roll and what was considered a spare or suitable to be left behind for any trip. Occasionally, he would stop and explain what each item was for and why it was important to keep in the boat. Billy did the best he could trying to keep from asking too many questions, but sometimes couldn’t help himself and would ask a question about something he didn’t recognize like the hub kit and the blocks of wood when he noticed they both went in the ‘ready to roll’ stack and not in the marine section of the garage. By the time either had realized it and hour and a half had passed before they managed to clear the back deck and were almost done with the cockpit area. Next was the front deck and Billy noticed most of those boxes were labeled “Fishing” or “Reels” or “Line”. Then there were all the rods still in their plastic from the store. This was the good part he’d been waiting for.

“Cookies and drinks” Mrs. Baker called as she opened the door. “I’ll just set them down here and you two can help yourselves when you get ready” And just as quickly as she did, she was gone again. Billy was almost disappointed, but the “drinks” part sure sounded good. It was warm out and even though Mr. Baker had the two fans mounted in the corners of the garage going, it still was pretty hot. “Come on Billy, I think we’ve earned a break”. Mr. Baker pulled a couple of chair up and flipped a milk crate over for a makeshift table between them and they both took their positions in the chairs with drinks and the cookies between them.

Wannabe...

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Good stuff, bro! Love those details!!! :) Keep up the great work!

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Originally Posted by C N

Good stuff, bro! Love those details!!! :) Keep up the great work!

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Speaking of details, this has the makings to be a really effective teaching medium. For instance, in the above chapter, I know that port is left and starboard is right, but I don't know why. By using the story, you could weave fishing techniques and know how into the story and teach the readers of the story all about fishing and boating without being boring. The plot would keep someone interested and not feeling like they were studying. Now, where's the next chapter?:o

A great story, can't wait to read the rest.

I bet if little Billy gets to go fishing, that with WB writing this little Billy won't even be able to catch a fish. :D

Chapter 8

The questions started slowly as they took their break. From their position in the garage, that motor was just begging for more explanation and that shiny metal thing it was attached to didn’t make any sense without a question or two. William Baker would have been content to just cool off, drink and munch, but he quickly found himself explaining things in great detail to Billy and quickly got himself wrapped up in the excitement of talking about something he loved to someone who was excited to hear about it. It wasn’t long before they both left the home made chocolate chips and sweet tea in frosted glasses with sugar on the rim behind and were up and walking around the boat. Mr. Baker would explain the function, purpose and how the accessory worked and that would prompt another question which would lead to more explanation. Before they knew it another hour had passed by the time they made it all the way around the boat and they were both hot again. They made their way back to their chairs and took up their positions again. A couple of minutes and a few cookies later Billy asked “Mr. Baker, that boat looks brand spanking new, but you said you’ve had it for 2 years. How come?” “Well, Billy, you see I’m sick and I just can’t take it out on my own”. Billy thought about it for a while and said, “You don’t look sick Mr. Baker, what’s wrong?”

Mr. Baker had answered this question so many times he was sick of explaining it to people and tired of talking about it. It was what it was and no amount of talking about it would help any. Then again, that wasn’t Billy’s fault so he couldn’t just dance around it like he did with most folks that weren’t worth the effort. “Well Billy, I was diagnosed 2 years ago with cancer of the Prostate”. Billy sat and thought some more. He’d of course heard of cancer and knew it was bad, but he had no idea what a prostrate was or where it was. Mr. Baker could tell he didn’t quite get it, but one of the things he liked about Billy was his ability to know when to talk and when not too. His boss had that quality for the 15 years he worked under him and was probably the only reason he was able to put up with him for all that time. Mr. Baker could tell Billy was content with what he’d told him so far, but still had questions, but wouldn’t be so bold as to come out and ask them. Yep, this Billy was a keeper.

William Baker started out slow explaining when it began and his symptoms, then the diagnosis and the treatment. He was careful not to put in too many details, but enough to sufficiently explain everything. William didn’t like talking about it, but about half way into his story, he noticed how good a listener Billy was and that made it easier on him. Still, he didn’t like all the details and skimmed most of them and spent more time talking about his movements and the decision to move Ann here and downsize their belongings more than about his cancer. When he’d come back around to a couple of weeks prior to now, the just kind of stopped in the story. Billy just sat there silently. He knew there was more and that Mr. Baker would finish, but anything Billy could say wouldn’t make it easier on him. William hadn’t really told his story recently and the family knew all the details. He reflected on his situation through out the telling of the story and couldn’t seem to find the words to tell the remaining part because he hadn’t had to actually speak it out loud to anyone up till now. “Billy, I finished my last treatment 6 weeks ago this Thursday. I have an appointment for a PET scan that morning. The PET scan will tell the doctors if there is any cancer left or if it has spread any where else. I haven’t told Ann this, but in the last 3 weeks, I haven’t been feeling all that well at all. I figure the cancer has either come back or it’s spread. If it has, I can’t go through another round of chemo therapy.” He stopped again. He’d made up his mind about that a while back when he was at his lowest point in the treatment. But he hadn’t said it out loud to anyone. Until now.

With that, the story was at its end. William didn’t have much hope of it turning out any other way. Billy sat quietly again. Mr. Baker wouldn’t be the first old guy he knew that died. Mr. Hamby down the street died 2 years ago from a heart attack, but that was quick and besides he was a pretty mean old guy anyhow. Billy remembered the time Mr. Hamby had yelled at his Mom when Billy used to ride his bike on the sidewalk in front of his house. Billy stared down at his feet, looked up at Mr. Baker and back down again. He probably hadn’t said 3 words throughout the whole story.

Mr. Baker just sat there too. He’d surprised himself with how much he had told the kid. Billy just made it easy. He was not sure if it was the heat or the telling of the story, but he was tired now. Billy looked up at him again and looked straight in Mr. Baker’s eyes. . There it was. William knew it would be coming at some point. The ‘I’m sorrys’, ‘I wish I could helps’, and the worst ones of all, the ‘Let me know if I can do anything for yous’. He normally greeted them with pleasantries and politeness. He couldn’t blame people after all. What else could they do? But deep down, those little sayings just made him mad. Billy said “Mr. Baker, I guess we better finish that boat then.” That was the point at which Mr. Baker fell in love with Billy, but Mr. Baker didn’t realize it just then.

The cookie and tea description was special delivery for my buddy Speck.

Dodgeman - watch it, or I'll post the next chapter in special code that makes it invisible to you. :)

Wannabe...